Steam flatiron



F. E. FINLAYSON 2,750,692

STEAM FLATIRON June 19, 1956 Filed Jan. 21, 1954 Invencov: Frank E.Fimaysom,

His AttOThey.

United States Patent STEAM FLATIRON Frank E. Finlayson, Ontario, Calif.,assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New YorkApplication January 21, 1954, Serial No. 405,378

4 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) The present invention relates to steam flatironswherein a reservoir for holding water is built directly into and forms apart of the flatiron. It relates more particularly to and is especiallyadvantageous when embodied in flatirons of the so-termed trave typewhich are provided with pivoted handles whereby the handle may be foldeddown onto the top wall of the flatiron cover to minimize the size of theflatiron when it is to be packed, although it is not limited to use insuch flatirons.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved steam flatiron, onewhich embodies a pivoted handle for example, which flatiron is simple instructure, compact, convenient to use, and capable of being manufacturedat low cost; and for a consideration of which I believe to be novel andmy invention attention is directed to the following specification and tothe claims appended thereto.

According to a now preferred form of the invention, there is embodied ina cavity in the underside of the handle of the fiatiron a waterreservoir which preferably is self-sustaining or form-retaining andwhich extends throughout the length of the handle and at its rear endhas connected to it a length of flexible tubing which extends outthrough an opening in a wall of the handle and is adapted to bedetachably connected to the outer end of a pipe through which water issupplied to a steam chamber in the flatiron body. The flexible tube islong enough so that when detached from the end of the water supply pipethe end of the tube may be inserted into a water containing receptacle,such as a drinking glass or cup, and the reservoir filled by collapsingit and then releasing it one or more times to permit it to expand anddraw in water after the manner of filling an ordinary syringe; and thehandle is shaped to provide a pocket at its rear end in which the excesstubing may be positioned or stored when the tube end is connected to thewater supply pipe end. Any suitable arrangement may be utilized fordetachably coupling the flexible tube end to the water supply pipe end,a simple form of slip over connection being shown in the presentinstance.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a steam flatironembodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing a form of detachableconnection or coupling between the flexible tube and the water supplypipe end.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the soleplate and 2 the cover ofthe flatiron, the two parts being fastened together by suitable means(not shown) and together forming the body of the flatiron. Fixed on theheel or rear end of cover 2 is a pair of spaced ears 3 on which ispivoted the handle 4, the pivot means being indicated at 5. The rear endof the handle is in the form of a tubular post 7 which is open towardthe front of the flatiron and it is specifically the two side walls 8 ofpost 7 which are pivotedly connected to ears 3. There is thus providedat the rear end of handle 4 a pocket 9 which is defined by the walls ofthe tubular post.

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Means are provided for latching the pivoted handle in its upper orironing position which means is readily released to permit of the handlebeing lowered down against the top wall of flatiron cover 2. Insofar asmy present invention is concerned, any suitable latch means may be used.In the present instance the latch means is shown as comprising a springplate 10 attached at its lower end to cover 2 and shaped at its upperend to provide a shoulder 11 adapted to stand under a transverse wall 12at the rear end of the handle. The spring plate has on its front side apad 13 of suitable heat resistant material against which a finger of theuser may be pressed in releasing the latch to permit of the handle beingfolded down against the top of cover 2.

In the body of the flatiron is a steam chamber 15 to which water issupplied by a pipe 16 for steam ironing, the steam generated in thesteam chamber being fed to the surface being ironed through steamingorifices in soleplate 1. The arrangement of the steaming orifices in thesoleplate and the passages for carrying the steam from the steam chamberto the orifices is not illustrated as such arrangements are known andtheir specific arrangement forms no part of the present invention. Anysuitable structure and arrangement of steam chamber, passages andorifices may be used in carrying out the invention. In the presentinstance the steam chamber is shown as comprising walls 17 which form adepression in soleplate 1 over which is fastened a cover plate 18. Theinner end of water supply pipe 16 is suitably attached to a wall of thesteam chamber by suitable means such as the threaded connection shownand at its end is shaped to provide a metering orifice 19 through whichwater flows from pipe 16 to the steam chamber. Pipe 16 extends outthrough an opening in cover 2 to a position where its outer end islocated adjacent to the outer side of post 7, it being shown in thepresent instance as being located at the rear of the post, and such endis arranged preferably so it points upwardly.

What may be termed the grip portion of handle 4 comprises side walls 20and a top wall 21 which define a downwardly facing recess or cavity 22in the underside of the handle, the rear end of the cavity being formedby wall 12. Cavity 22 extends throughout most of the length of thehandle and in it is mounted or positioned a flexible preferablyself-sustaining or form-retaining water reservoir 23 formed from rubberor other suitable flexible material. It may be held in the cavity by anysuitable means. In the present instance side walls 20 are curvedinwardly toward each other at their edges thus providing lips 24 onwhich the reservoir rests and which serve to retain it in the cavity.Also at its forward end the handle may be provided with a transversewall 20a which forms a pocket in which the front end of the reservoir ispositioned. For convenience in manufacture the handle may be molded intwo halves, being split longitudinally as shown in the drawing, the twohalves being connected together by suitable fasteners 20b. Suitablyconnected with the rear end of reservoir 23 is a length of flexible tube25 which extends through an opening in Wall 12, across pocket 9, and outthrough an opening 26 in the rear wall of post 7. Means is provided fordetachably connecting the outer end of tube 25 to the outer end of pipe16. Any suitable readily detachable type of fitting may be used. In thepresent instance a simple type of fitting comprising an enlarged end 27on tube 25 adapted to be slipped over the end of pipe 26 is shown, theend being provided with a bead 28 for retaining the tube in place. Toenable the structure to be assembled and afterwards to prevent tube end27 from being accidently pushed back through opening 26, the enlargedend 27 is made small enough so that it may be compressed and passedthrough the opening in wall 12 and post opening 26 but large enough sothat when not compressed it will be somewhat larger than opening 26.Tube is long enough so that when detached from the outer end of pipe 16,the extra length indicated at may be pulled out through opening 26 sothat the end of the tube may be dipped into water in a receptacle suchas a drinking glass, a cup or small pan. When the tube is attached topipe 16, the extra length 30 may be stored in cavity 9 as shown inFig. 1. Receptacle 23 is provided with a tip 31 which projects up intoan opening 32 in the top wall of handle 4 and has a vent 33 sopositioned that it may be covered readily with the thumb of a hand,holding the fiatiron by the handle, to assist in filling.

The electric wiring for the fiatiron is not illustrated but it will beunderstood that suitable wiring is provided which is connected to theheating unit for the fiatiron in the well known manner. One heating unitterminal is indicated at 35. Also, it will be understood that thefiatiron may or may not be provided with a suitable thermostat forregulating the temperature as found desirable.

When there is no water in reservoir 23, the fiatiron may be used for dryironing in the usual way.

When it is desired to use the fiatiron for steam ironing, tube end 25,if at the time it is attached to the end of pipe 16, is detachedtherefrom, the extra length of tubing pulled out through opening 26, andthe end of the tube dipped into water in a conveniently locatedreceptacle. The reservoir is then collapsed and released one or moretimes by squeezing it with the fingers of a hand holding the fiatiron byits handle, the thumb of the hand covering the vent 33, thus filling thereservoir. The tube end is then connected to the end of pipe 16 and theextra length of tubing pushed back through opening 26 into cavity 9. Nowthe fiatiron may be used for steam ironing in the known way, water beingsupplied from reservoir 23 through tube 25, pipe 16 and metering orifice19 to the steam chamber where the water is flashed into steam and thesteam fed to the surface being ironed through the passages and orificesprovided for that purpose. The reservoir may be filled successivelyafter the manner described until the ironing is completed after whichthe tube may be removed from the pipe end 16 and any water left in thereservoir expelled by squeezing the reservoir with the thumb coveringvent 33. The fiatiron may be stored either with or without tube 25connected to pipe 16; however, it is preferable when storing theflatiron to have the tube disconnected from the pipe to avoid thepossibility of any water left inadvertently in the reservoir drippinginto the fiatiron body.

By my invention I provide a steam fiatiron which is simple in structure,convenient to use, and capable of being manufactured at low cost. Byarranging the water reservoir in the handle I do not add to the overallsize of the fiatiron while at the same time there is provided areservoir of ample capacity for an ironing operation; and since thereservoir is concealed in the handle it does not interfere with thestyling of the flat-iron or detract from its appearance.

Also the structure had the advantage that the reservoir can be quicklyand easily assembled in the handle since it is necessary merely tothread the tube through the two openings and press the reservoir intothe handle cavity; and as will be clear, a reservoir can be quickly andeasily replaced by merely pulling the one reservoir out and inserting anew one dter the manner described.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a steam fiatiron, a flatiron body, a steam chamber in the body, ahandle attached to the body, said handle having a downwardly facingopen-sided cavity therein, a flexible water reservoir in said cavity, apipe for supplying water to said steam chamber, a flexible tubeconnected at one end to said reservoir, and means for detachablyconnecting the other end of said tube to said water supply pipe, saidreservoir being so positioned with respect to the open side of thehandle cavity that it is accessible for collapsing whereby saidreservoir may be filled with water by detaching the flexible tube fromsaid pipe and dipping the end of the tube in water in a receptacle.

2. The combination defined by claim 1 wherein said reservoir has an airvent accessible through an opening in said handle and so positioned thatit may be covered by the thumb of a hand while the reservoir is beingfilled.

3. In a steam flatiron, a fiatiron body having a steam chamber therein,a handle mounted on the body which extends longitudinally across the topof the body, said handle having top and side walls which define adownwardly facing open-sided cavity which extends longitudinally of thehandle, a flexible water reservoir in said cavity, a water supply pipeconnected to said steam chamber, the outer end of said pipe terminatingat a point outside the confines of the handle, a flexible tube connectedat one end of said reservoir, and readily detachable means forconnecting the other end of said tube to the outer end of said watersupply pipe, said reservoir being so positioned with respect to the openside of said cavity that it is accessible for collapsing whereby saidreservoir may be filled with water by detaching the flexible tube fromsaid pipe, and dipping the end of the tube in water in a receptacle.

4. In a steam fiatiron, a fiatiron body having a steam chamber therein,a handle mounted on the body comprising a post portion and a gripportion, said post portion having walls which define a pocket thereinand said grip portion having Walls which define an open-sided cavitytherein, a flexible water reservoir in said cavity, a pipe for supplyingwater to said steam chamber, a flexible tube which is connected to saidreservoir and extends across said pocket and out through an opening in awall of said pocket, and means for detachably connecting the outer endof said tube to said water pipe, said tube having length in excess ofthat required for it to extend from the reservoir to the water pipewhich excess length may be stored in said pocket, said tube whendetached being immersible in water for filling said reservoir uponcompression and release of said reservoir.

References Gated in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.16,886 Walker Feb. 21, 1928 2,433,556 Hume Dec. 30, 1947 2,573,174 BateOct. 30, 1951 2,589,921 Boardrnan Mar. 18, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 616,571Great Britain Jan. 24, 1949

